Brick-press.



PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905.

E. D. CHURCH.

BRICK PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1. 1904.

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Wmv/esse@ No. 784,470. PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905. E. D. CHURCH.

BRICK PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1904.

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.Patented March 7, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

EDGAR D. CHURCH, OF SAGINAIV, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICANSANDSTONE BRICK MACHINERY CO., OF SAGINAIV, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFMICHIGAN.

BFilCK-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,470, dated March 7,1905. Application filed March l, 1904. Serial No. 196,087.

To all whom, '1125 may concern:

Be it known that'I, EDGAR D. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Presses, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for molding and pressing' bricks ofthat type comprising a rotary table or mold-carrier having a circularseries of `moldcavities therein and plungers in said cavities which areadapted to be reciprocated thereon to successively receive the plasticmaterial, compress it, and extract the compressed brick.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction,comprising the means employed for cleaning the plungers after eachoperation from adhering portions of the plastic material; further, themeans for supporting the plunger-s; further, the means of adjusting therotary table to maintain the same in proper relation with thecompression head or abutment, and, further, in the peculiarconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the machine.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plunger-cleaning mechanism. Fig. 3is a cross-section thereof. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through therotary table, showing the adjustable support therefor. Fig. 5 is across-section through one of the moldcavities in the table. Fig. 6 is amodified construction of the plunger-cleaning apparatus, and Fig'. 7 isa side elevation of parts shown in Fig. A.

A is a suitable bed or base. Bis the rotary table mounted thereon,being' journaled upon a vertically-extending pin or pivot C. This pivotis preferably formed by a bolt D, hav-` ing its nut E in a. recess inthe bottom of the base and extending upward therefrom, being surroundedby a bushing E, which forms the journal or pivot for the table B. Theupper end of the pin C passes through one end of a yoke Cr, the oppositeend of which is secured to a column H, rising from the bed A in rear ofthe table B. The upper end of the bolt D is threaded and has engagedtherewith the nut I, which when tightened will firmly clamp the bushingE between the yoke and the bed A.

The yoke Cr has secured to its under face the plate J, against which theplastic material in the molds is compressed. These molds K are arrangedin circular series around the table B and are adapted to be successivelyregistered with the plate J in the intermittent rotation of the table.Each of the mold-cavities K has arranged therein a plunger L, which atits upper end is preferably provided with a hardened face-platea and atits lower end carries the antifriction-roll M, adapted to travel on anannular cam-track N upon the base A. Thus in the rotation of the tablethe plungers will be raised or lowered in the mold-cavities inaccordance with the shape of the camtrack N.

At one point in the bed the cam-track N is interrupted and in placethereof is arranged a vertically-movable plate O. This plate is raisedand lowered by a lever l), which is fulcrumed in bearings in the bed andsupports the plate O, preferably through the medium of an interposedroller Q. The lever I) is actuated by a link R, connecting it with aneccentric S upon the shaft T, said shaft being rotated through themedium of the pinion U and gear-wheel V, the latter being' secured tothe d rive-shaft IV. These gears are supported upon a suitable frameworkmounted upon the base A.

rith the machine as thus far described in operation the table B isrotated intermittently by suitable actuating mechanism, such as theratchet-lever X, connected to a crank Y on the shaft T by the rod Z.These parts are indicated by dotted lines in Fig'. l and are so arrangedthat in each rotation of the shaft T the table B will be given a partialrotation, so as to successively register the mold-cavities with thecompression-plate J. At the same time the rotation of the shaft T will,through the medium of the eccentric S and rod R, actuate the lever I),and the timing is such that during the interval when the table B isstationary the lever P will raise the plate O. This plate being directlybeneath one of the plungers will press the latter upward, therebycompressing' the plastic material in the moldcavity against thecompression-plate J, which latter has its lower face ush with the upperface of the carrier B. In the further movement of the mechanism thetable will be again partially rotated, which will carry the moldcavityhaving the pressed brick therein out of registration with the plate Oand compressionplate J after which an incline in the camtrack N willraise the plunger and move the compressed brick out of the mold-cavity.Before the mold-cavity is again registered with the plate O andcompression-plate J it passes beneath a hopper or receptacle for theplastic material, such as A', and is filled with material for anotherbrick.

Heretofore in the continuous operation of the machine as just describedcertain difficulties have arisen which have interfered with the-successful operation. One yof these difficulties is due to the tendencyfor a portion of the plastic material pressed into the brick to adhereto the upper face ofthe plunger. Thus when the brick is removed(preferably by hand) if this adhering material remains upon the plungerin the second operation a greater quantity will adhere, with the resultthat after a few operations the shape of the bricks formed is imperfect,the lower face being' rough. This diliiculty is avoided by myplunger-cleaning mechanism, which is constructed as follows: L is abrush whicn is arranged above the table Bat a point in advance of thehopper A. This brush is operated by mechanism so that during theinterval of rest of the table it will rub over the upper ,face c of theplunger L. As shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, this isaccomplished byconnecting the brush Z1 with a head c, which is slidingly secured inhoriZontally-extending guides in a head d, the latter being slidinglysecured in vertical guides of a stationary head or supporting-bracket e.The head Z is connected to one end of a lever f, fulcrumed upon astationary pin g. /t is a rod engaging with the opposite end of thelever f and itself connected to an eccentric@I upon a rotary shaft j'.This shaft is journaled in suitable bearings preferably secured to theyoke Gr and is revolved through the medium of a suitable driveconneetion, such as the pulley t on the shaft j', connected by the beltZ with a pulley m upon the shaft W. The eccentric t' is also connectedby a link a with a lever 0, which is fulcrumed at p, and with its lowerend engages a slotted bearing` in the brush I). W'ith the constructionjust described the rotation of the shaft j will cause a reciprocatingmovement to be imparted to the levers f and o. 'Ihe former willvertically reciprocate the head d, and the latter will horizontallyrecipment of the rod L being more than suficient Y to press the brushagainst the plunger.

Then the machine is operated with the cleaning attachment abovedescribed, any adhering material on the upper face of the plungers willbe removed by the operation of the brush and as this brush alwaysbrushes in one direction and is moved independent from -the movement ofthe table the plungers will not only be thoroughly cleaned, but thebrush itself will be kept clean. It is not, however, absolutelynecessary yto employ a reciprocating brush, as shown, and, if desired,in place thereof a rotary brush may be used, as illustrated in Fig. 6,in which a revoluble brush b/ is arranged above the table across thepath of the plungers, said brush being constantly rotated throughsuitable gearing f1', connecting it with the rotating shaft j. l/Viththis construction whenever the plungers are ca used to travel past thebrush it will clean them during movement by the rotary brushing.

Another difficulty encountered in machines as heretofore constructed isdue to the rubbing of the lower faces of the plungers over the plate Owhen in registration therewith. Dur- IOO ing the travel of the plungersaround the track N they are supported on the antifriction-roll M; butwhen the plungers are lifted by the movement of the lever P and'plate Oit is necessary that they should positively contact with said plate, soas to transmit the great pressure necessary for the compression of thebrick. Thus, as shown, the lower end of the plunger is bifurcated andthe antifriction-roll M is arranged between the furcations at thereof,the latter forming the bearings with which the plate O contacts duringthe compression movement. In previous constructions the plungers afterpassing out of engagement with the track N rest directly upon the plateO and are slid across said plate during thel subsequent movement of thetable until the roll M` again engages the track N. During the slidingmovement the lower end of the plungers and the plate are subjected towear, which is greatly increased by the presence of sand upon the plate,so that in the course of time the bearing-surfaces will be uneven, andthis will interfere with the accuracy of the work.

In the present construction the plungers when above the plate O andduring the movement of thetable B are suspended so as to be slightly outof contact with said plate and IIO only bear against the latter when itis raised by the movement of the lever P. As shown` this is accomplishedby forming recesses upon opposite sides of the plunger and arrangingprojecting'lugs u, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the underside of the table and eng'ag'e with the recesses z5. Thus the shouldersf/f at the upper ends of the recesses twill be supported upon the lug'sa and will suspend the plungers L out of contact with the plate O.

It is essential to the accurate operation of the machine that the lowerface of the compression-plate J be maintained Hush with the upper faceot' the table containing' the mold-'cavities. This may be accomplishedby arrang'- ing' the bearing' ze on the bed which supports the table Bat a suitable elevation; but after the machine hasbeen in operation thewearing et' this bearing and the contacting face of the table willpermit the latter to be slightly lowered, with the result that it isseparated from the compression-plate J. To overcome this dificulty, lhave arranged an adjustable bearing' for the table B, which, as shown,com-V prises the members fr and 1/, arranged between the bearing 'en andthe table B. These members :rf and z/ have oppositely-inclined meeting'faces and are held from rotary movement in relation to each other b v atongue-and-g'roove eng'agement 'l' he lower member ru is also held fromrotation by guides in' on the bearing' fw and is centrally slotted at mto permit ot' lateral adjustment in relation to the bolt D.

.Suitable adjusting' means is provided, such as the screw-threaded studzu, passing' through an apertured lug :lf3 at the outer end ot' themember :1f and engaging' with the adjusting'- nuts if* on opposite sidesot' said lug. By means ot' this construction whenever it is desired totake np the wear the nuts fc* may be adjusted, which will move themember af in relation to the member 1/ and slig'htly raise the table.

lVhat I claim my invention is 1. ln a brick-machine the combination witha rotary table having mold-cavities therein, ot' an elongated workmember having a bearingplate intermediate at its ends, plungers arrangedt'or vertical reciprocation within said cavities, and means fordepositing' plastic material in said cavities to be compressed by saidplungers against said bearing-plate, of means for cleaning' the ends ot'said plung'ers comprisinga brush and mechanism t'or moving' the sameover the surface of the plung'ers while in registration therewith.

2. lu a brick-machine,the combination with a rotary table having amold-cavity therein, a stationary plate above the cavity, ar annularcam-track having' a cut-away portion, a plung'er adapted to bereciprocated within said cavity, a reciprocatory plate arranged withinsaid cut-away portion ot' the track, means for i track and thereciprocatory plate, and a cleaning device `for the plunger spaced Vfromsaid reciprocatory plate.

3. In a brick-machine the combination with a rotary table having'aseries of mold-cavities therein, plung'ers adapted for reciprocation insaid cavities, a hopper for depositing' the plastic material on saidtable to till said cavities and a compression-plate against which saidmaterial is compressed in the subsequent movement of said plungers, otlmeans for cleaning' the compression-faces ot' said plungers comprising'a brush normally arranged above the table and adapted to cross the pathot' the plung'ers in advance of said hopper, and mechanism foractuating' said brush to bring the same into contact with the plungersto brush the material in one direction from ofi' the face of saidplungers when in registration therewith.

4. In a brick-machine, the combination with a rotary table having aseries ot' mold-cavities therein, plung'ers adapted for reciprocation insaid cavities, and means for depositing' the plas- -tic material in saidcavities to be compressed by said plunger, of a cleaning device for saidplung'ers, comprising' a brush arranged above the table, and mechanism'for reciprocating said brush across said plungers with its bristles incontact therewith when moving' in one direction, and withdrawn `from thecontact when moving' in the opposite direction.

ln a brick-press the combination with a rotary table having' a seriesot' mold-cavities therein, plungers adapted for reciprocation in saidcavities, means t'or depositing the plastic material in said cavities tobe compressed by said plung'ers, ot' a cleaning' device for saidplungers, comprising a brush, a head having' horizontal guides forslidingly securing said brush, vertical guides in which said head issliding'ly secured, a pair ot' levers for respectively oscillating saidhead and brush in vertical and horizontal direction, actuating-rods forsaid levers and an eccentric to which said rods are connected wherebyhorizontal and vertical reciprocation is imparted to the brush.

6. .ln a brick-machine the combination with a rotary table having amold-cavity therein, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in said cavity,an antifriction-roll on said plunger, and a track over which saidantit'riction-roll is adapted to travel in the rotation otl said table,of a vertically-movable platearrang'ed in an interruption ot' said trackand adapted to bear against the under tace of said plunger during itsupward movement, a lug'secnred to said table, and projecting' into arecess in said plunger, and a shoulder formed at the upper end ot' saidrecess adapted to rest upon said lug, and support said plunger out ot'contact with said vertically-movable plate when the latter is in itsdepressed position.

7. In a brick-press the combination with a successively registering saidplunger with said I rotary table having' a mold-cavity, a plunger TOO insaid cavity adapted for'reciprocation, and a stationarycompression-plate Hush with the upper face of said table, of avertically-adinstable wedge-shaped bearing for said rotary table,whereby it may be maintained in contact with said compression-plate.

8. In a brick-press the combination with a rotary table having amold-cavity therein, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in saidmoldcavity, and a stationary compression-plate above said table, andflush with the upper face thereof, of an annular bearing for supporting`said rotary table, and a wedge-shaped member for vertically adjustingsaid bearing.

9. In a brick-press, the combination with a rotary table having amold-cavity therein, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in said cavity,and a stationary compression-plate above said table, and flush with theupper face thereof, of a pin on which said table is journaled, anannular bearing surrounding said pin and forining the support for saidtable, and means engaging said bearing for vertically adjusting thesame.

10. In a brick-press the combination with a Y rotary table havingmold-cavities therein, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in saidcavity, and a stationary compression-plate having' its lower face iiushwith the upper face of said table, of a pin .forminga journal for saidrotary table, an annular bearing surrounding said pin formed of twomembers having parallel opposite faces and oppositely-inclined meetingfaces one of said members being adjustable laterally in relation to theother to vertically adjust said table. y

1l. In a brick-press the combination with a rotary table havingmold-cavities, a plunger adapted for reciprocation in said cavity, and acompression-plate having its lower face flush with the upper face ofsaid table,y of a pin on which said table is journaled and an annularbearing surrounding said pin comprising the members .fu and 1/ havingparallel opposite faces and oppositely-inclined.meeting faces, themember x being slotted for lateral adjustment on said pin and havingatongue-groove engagement with the member i/ and means for adjusting themember laterally to vertically adjust said rotary table.

l2.' In a brick-machine, a stationary bear-A ing-plate, a rotaryrecessed table therebelow,

a cam-track having a cut-away portion, a vertically-reciprocatory platewithin said cutaway portion, a plunger traveling over said track andadapted to be reciprocated within said recess by said reciprocatoryplate, but normally spaced above the latter when in line therewith.

13. In a brick-machine, a stationary bear ing-plate, a rotary recessedtable therebelow, a cam-track having a cut-away portion, avertically-reciprocatory -plate within said cutaway portion, a plungertraveling over said track and adapted to be reciprocated within saidrecess by said reciprocatory plate, and means on the table for limitingthe downward movement of the plunger and normally spacing the latterfrom said reciprocatory plate when in line therewith.

14. In a brick-press, the combination with a bed having a series ofmold-cavities therein, plungers adapted for reciprocation in saidcavities, means for depositing the plastic material in said cavities tobe compressed by said plungers, of a cleaning device for said plungers,comprising a brush, a head having horizontal guides for slidinglysecuring said brush, vertical guides in which said head isslidinglysecured, and means for respectively oscillating said head andbrush in vertical and horizontal direction.

15. In a brick-machine, the combination with a bed having a series ofmold-cavities therein, plungers adapted for reciprocation in saidcavities, means for depositing the plastic material in said cavities tobe compressed by said plungers, of a cleaning device for said plungers,comprising a brush, a head having horizontal guides for slidinglysecuring said brush, vertical guides in which said head is slidinglysecured, a pair of levers for respectively oscillating said head andbrushin vertical and horizontal direction, and means associated withsaid levers whereby horizontal and vertical reciprocation is imparted tothe brush.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR D. CHURCH.

I/Vitnesses:

C. MAY EXCELL, TERESA MALoNE.

